Lyme Disease Science Blog

USA veterans suffer from tick-borne illnesses

Researchers describe 181 veterans with Lyme disease from Long Island, New York in an article published in the journal Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. [1] The authors reviewed the electronic records of veterans treated between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2016 at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

They found that out of 181 patients, 32 presented with an erythema migrans rash. The Lyme disease cases were positive on a C6 peptide and confirmed with a Western blot test. The veterans exhibited: joint pain (58), myalgias and fatigue (34), headache/neck pain (27), peripheral neuropathy (14), seventh nerve palsy (5), and palpitations (2).

The authors concluded that 228 veterans with a positive C6 peptide did not have Lyme disease since their Western blot was negative. The authors did not address whether any of these 228 veterans might have Lyme disease with a negative Western blot.

Many of the diagnoses reported for the 228 veterans have been described in Lyme disease. The list includes:

The authors’ chart review was not designed to address the risk of long-term manifestations of Lyme disease.

What next?

It would be reasonable to follow the veterans who had a negative Western blot to determine if any of them might later be diagnosed with Lyme disease. It would also be reasonable to follow the veterans in their next study to determine the risk of long-term manifestations.

References:

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4 Replies to "USA veterans suffer from tick-borne illnesses"

Edina Khan

02/22/2019 (1:38 pm)

I am a native NY veteran of the US Army and a Physician Assistant disabled from tick borne illnesses. I am fed up with an ineffective test being used to tell people they do not have tick borne illness. Why doesn’t someone perform serial PCR tests until we can prove their flawed method?

Dr. Daniel Cameron

02/22/2019 (1:57 pm)

02/17/2019 (1:46 pm)

A friend in the US Army was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia by Walter Reed Drs, but really had LD. This was confirmed by an IgeneX blood test after 8 years mistreatment for fibro. His wife and 2 sons also have LD. When, if ever, will the CDC wake up and stop the suffering?

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Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH, is a nationally recognized leader for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. For more than 25 years, he has been treating adolescents and adults suffering from Lyme disease.

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Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH, is a nationally recognized leader for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. For more than 30 years, he has been treating adolescents and adults suffering from Lyme disease.